Young mums on parenting programs will be pushed back to work

A PARENTING program aimed at reducing welfare dependency, youth unemployment and teen pregnancy will roll out in Mackay next July.

The ParentsNext program is already running in 10 locations but will be extended to another 20 from July, reaching another 68,000 parents every year.

The $260million funding boost will see young parents get access to training programs so they are ready for a job by the time their children start primary school.

For struggling parents in Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Toowoomba, it will be compulsory.

"It's good for their future, and it's great for their kids too," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said. "They can see that Mum and Dad are engaged with the workforce."

The 20 locations were chosen for their economic disadvantage and high Indigeous populations.

Mackay's unemployment rate is above the national average and has a high proportion of the working age population receiving income support. There is also a high proportion of Indigenous people on parenting payments, a government spokesperson said. At April 28, there were 381 people under the age of 24 on parenting payment in the Mackay local government area.

Brittany Knowles, 20, was 18 when she had her first child, and has just had her second.Contributed

Brittany Knowles was 18 when she gave birth to her first child.

Now 20, and with a second child, she fully supports the idea of the program; saying she could do with the added help to find a job once her children are in school.

"I think it (ParentsNext) would help me and reduce the amount of parents relying on welfare payments in Mackay overall.

"I hate having to rely on it, I want to be able to work for my money but I don't want to miss out on my babies growing up either."

Tazmin Rawlins was 22 when she gave birth to her daughter Lola, and said while ParentsNext would have helped her in a number of ways, she felt many parents were already doing all they could to find work.

"I love that it will help pay for things like licences as I haven't lived with my parents since 16 and have never had anyone to help me drive, so I don't even have my learners.

"The issue I have is if it's time consuming, I have just signed up to start uni this year plus the time at home with my baby while my husband works, I would struggle to get much more into my packed schedule."

HOW IT WORKS

In both streams, parents will meet regularly with their provider and set employment or education goals.

Services offered will include education, training, parenting courses, counselling, health services, housing services, financial management, and language, literacy and numeracy classes. ParentsNext may also help parents to access childcare services in their local area.

The more intensive stream will have a stronger emphasis on getting parents into work:

ParentsNext providers will receive a new Participation Fund of $1200 when each parent commences in the program to help pay for pre-employment training, work-related training, work experience and mentoring.

ParentsNext providers will be paid $300 for each participant who achieves an education or employment outcome as an incentive.

Each Indigenous parent in the program will be immediately eligible for a wage subsidy of up to $10,000. Indigenous parents will receive culturally competent servicing.

To be eligible the parents:

Youngest child is aged five years or under.

They have not had paid employment in the past six months, and

They must reside in one of the 20 ParentsNext locations.

Who can participate?

Some parents will be required to participate in ParentsNext as a condition of receiving Parenting Payment - these parents will be contacted by the Department of Human Services. ParentsNext Project providers can also assist parents who wish to participate on a voluntary basis provided they meet certain criteria.